BLESSED TRINITY CATHOLIC PARISH

Transcription

1 MAR/APR 2017 BLESSED TRINITY CATHOLIC PARISH Serving St. Patrick Catholic Church in Lodi, WI and St. Michael Catholic Church in Dane, WI IN THIS ISSUE 2 Stewardship Hannah, the Good Steward 3 Lent Is More Than Preparation for Easter 4 Lodi Children Benefit from Blessings in a Backpack 6 The Irish Evangelist St. Patrick Feast Day, March 17 7 To Re-Dedicate Ourselves to Doing What is Right Lenten Opportunities at Blessed Trinity Catholic Parish FRASSATI FEST Allowing Youth to Experience the Faith Together In efforts to encourage us in our personal journey towards holiness, the Catholic Church presents the saints to us. The saints teach us that responding to God s love is personal and applicable to each of our circumstances. Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati stands out as a beacon of faith for youth and young adults. His witness to a life of holiness has inspired the Diocese of Madison to annually offer a Frassati Fest for youth, thus recognizing the vital place for youth in the church, as well as inviting them to respond boldly to God s call. Frassati Fest is an opportunity for youth to see the faith lived out in a larger setting, says Coordinator of Catechetics Andy Schindhelm. It gives them the idea that the Church isn t just here in our parish, and helps them see the bigger picture along with meeting other Catholic teens in the area. The kids have a lot of fun with the fellowship. This year, 13 youth from our parish attended the diocesan-wide high school conference at the Kalarahi Resort in Wisconsin Dells from Feb. This year, Blessed Trinity sent 13 high school students to the diocesan-wide Frassati Fest youth event More than 200 youth from all over the Diocese of Madison attended the three-day weekend filled with waterpark fun, games, great talks and presentations, and deep prayer. It s always amazing to be surrounded by hundreds of teenagers who share my same faith, says 12 th - grader Hailey Hellenbrand. I always love meeting new people at Frassati Fest, adds 12 th -grader Kelsey Eyre. This year, I especially loved the adoration time and I thought continued on page 5

2 BLESSED TRINITY CATHOLIC PARISH Stewardship HANNAH, THE GOOD STEWARD What should we do when our prayers are answered? Is there anything left to do after we have sincerely thanked God for His favors? If God were a human peer, we would probably try to reciprocate by granting Him a favor in return. But the truth is that God cannot be made greater by anything that we do for Him. Instead, God receives our thanks and tells us to go and do likewise. That is, He tells us to share with others the good that He has bestowed on us. And in doing so, we are really sharing God Himself. That is the definition of stewardship! The Old Testament Book of Samuel contains one of the most poignant examples of stewardship in the entire Bible. The first chapter teaches us of an unhappy, barren woman named Hannah. Desperate in her barrenness, Hannah prays that God will give her a son, vowing that she will raise him to be a man of God. Imagine Hannah s elation when she was granted her prayer! When Samuel was born, her heart s desire had come true! Imagine further the pang of motherly sorrow, as Hannah kept her promise to God by taking Samuel at a young age to be the servant of Eli, the high priest. The Book of Samuel tells us that once Samuel became Eli s servant, Hannah saw her young son just once a year. Indeed, Hannah knew that Samuel was truly a gift from God an answered prayer. Hannah s response is that of the Good Steward with an attitude of both gratitude and sacrifice, she gave up her son to honor God. One imagines that Hannah probably struggled with this sacrifice during those first years. She probably did not know what God had in store for her son. Yet, through her faithfulness, God used him as a gift to an entire nation. Samuel would, in time, become one of the greatest prophets of Jewish history. Sometimes it is difficult to understand the sacrifices we make in the name of stewardship, while the results may just be impossible to miss! However, He asks that we continue to be faithful in either case. God has undoubtedly bestowed gifts on all of us at whatever the cost, we are to go and do likewise.

3 MAR/APR 2017 A LETTER FROM OUR PASTOR Lent Is More Than Preparation for Easter Dear Friends, In 2013, Pope Francis issued his first significant work. It was what is called an apostolic exhortation titled The Joy of the Gospel (Evangelii Gaudium in Latin). While Rome may use fancy words for some of these things, an exhortation of this sort does not change any official Church rules or traditions. However, it does offer advice and encouragement about how we should live our lives. Pope Francis offers this kind of guidance on a regular basis, but this one in particular seems to present us with suggestions that are worthy of our consideration, especially during Lent. The pope called us to become missionary disciples: The Church which goes forth is a community of missionary disciples who take the first step, who are involved and supportive, who bear fruit and rejoice (Evangelii Gaudium, 24). Speaking about his exhortation, Pope Francis said, One of the riches of the Second Vatican Council was to remind the Church of the two lenses of the season of Lent: baptismal and penitential. In fact, Vatican II noted specifically, The two elements which are especially characteristic of Lent the recalling of baptism or the preparation for it, and penance should be given greater emphasis in the liturgy and in liturgical catechesis. It is by means of them that the Church prepared the faithful for the celebration of Easter, while they hear God s word more frequently and devote more time to prayer (Companion to the Catechism of the Catholic Church #1348). It might be well for us to keep these in mind during Lent. There were vows made during our baptism, and this is the time of year to try to fulfill those vows, in addition to reaffirming them. We are given various opportunities to renew these vows, and we may tend to do it automatically without a thought. Now, however, is the time to think. Perhaps during Lent, we can renew these vows as families and we must not necessarily do it in church or at a Mass. Then, we need to do something during Lent to help each of us understand what that renewal means. The other important part of Lent pointed out by Pope Francis has to do with penance. Most of us have heard the traditional practices of Lent fasting, prayer, reception of the Sacraments, and almsgiving. These are things that may bring us closer to Christ. By fasting, we may gain a greater understanding of the hunger the Lord feels for our souls; by increased prayer, we join in union with God; through the Sacraments, especially the Eucharist and Reconciliation, we become a greater part of that union with God; through giving alms, we empty ourselves in part, just as Jesus emptied Himself for us on the cross. This is a time to do more than prepare for Easter. This is a time to change how we may approach living and our faith. God bless you now and throughout this holiest of seasons. God bless, Fr. Scott Jablonski Pastor

4 LODI CHILDREN BENEFIT FROM BLESSED TRINITY CATHOLIC PARISH Sometimes, school is more than just a place to learn. Sometimes, it s the only place a child can count on not feeling hungry. Right in our own community, there are children who don t know where their next meal is coming from. When school is sometimes the one place they know they ll find a hot lunch, the weekends can be a different story. Enter Blessings in a Backpack, a national nonprofit organization that makes sure Saturday and Sunday don t mean hungry bellies for our community s youngest members. Twenty percent of students in the Lodi district qualify for the free or reduced lunch program nationally, 70 percent of American school children rely on these programs and go without on the weekends, says Kim Cooke, a parishioner who represents Blessed Trinity as part of an interfaith committee to bring Blessings in a Backpack to Lodi. I don t know if people realize this, but if you think about it, when those kids are getting food, their attendance improves, they feel cared for, they also learn more easily in school. Starting this month, 26 children at Lodi Elementary School will receive a grocery bag at the school every Friday. These bags are filled with at least six nutritionally sound items meant to supplement their weekend meals. Right now, our principal, Mr. Hendrickson, has identified 26 confirmed students but is waiting to hear back from 13 other families, Kim says. The school district identifies and then invites a family, and they can say yes or no. Kim, who has worked as a substitute teacher within the district for a decade, says she initially found the level of need within our community to be surprising, but that this initiative should be seen as a way to meet that need head-on. It s really sad that anybody should be in that position, she says. We re a small community and to have that many kids in need, much less families, I kind of say to myself, Boy, am I naïve. Someone once said, It takes a village to raise a child, Kim continues. As I get older and I see these things, I truly believe it takes a village,

5 MAR/APR 2017 BLESSINGS IN A BACKPACK and that basically comes back to loving your neighbor. I would sure hope that if I were ever in that situation, that someone would want to love me enough to help me as part of that village. You have to have your heart and your eyes open to see it and jump in and help. For those who would like to jump in, the group is currently looking for a motivated volunteer or two to fulfill what s called the shopper role. This individual is charged with shopping for the items that students take home with them weekly. Kim says the person who fulfills this role must be willing to pay for the items ahead of time and be reimbursed later by Blessings in a Backpack. They re looking for someone who has the time and likes to shop and can find the best deals, Kim says. We re trying to work with our local grocery store to see what kind of deals we can get. Please contact Kim Cooke at if you would like to lend your time and talents. You can also make a donation by sending a check made out to Blessings in a Backpack to Lodi Elementary, c/o Principal Lyle Hendrickson, 101 School Street, Lodi, WI Please write Lodi Elementary, 1832 in the check s memo line. You can learn more about the group s efforts on their Facebook page, Lodi Blessings in a Backpack or visit the national site, Frassati Fest continued from front cover it was cool how so many teens flooded to the confession line during it. This year s theme RISE encouraged youth to RISE from the routine of every day to embrace a weekend of fun and adventure, RISE up out of our fear and create authentic friendships with other Catholic teens, and ultimately have the chance to RISE to the joy and happiness found in a relationship with Jesus Christ while learning about the beauty of the Faith! I learned a lot at Frassati Fest this year, says 10 th -grader Dylan Streeter. One of the keynote speakers quoted St. Augustine who said, If you wish to rise, begin by descending. Humility is important. The more you put in to your faith, the more you re going to get out of it. By balancing faith formation, the sacraments, and fellowship, Frassati Fest truly creates a unique opportunity for our high school students. In this way, youth are not just told about the faith, but shown how they can live it out even from a young age and grow in holiness in their everyday lives, becoming saints. Andy encourages everyone in the parish to keep the youth in their prayers and encourage kids to participate in the youth programs offered at the parish. If you would like to learn more about opportunities for our youth, or to get involved, please contact Andy Schindhelm at , ext. 4 or aschindhelm@btcatholic.us.

6 BLESSED TRINITY CATHOLIC PARISH THE IRISH EVANGELIST St. Patrick Feast Day, March 17 This month, we celebrate the feast of St. Patrick. Born in the year 387, Patrick grew up in the Roman province of Britain. He was captured at the age of 16 by Irish raiders, taken to Ireland and sold into slavery. And, despite the precarious nature of his captivity, Patrick managed to learn the language and customs of the Druid pagans who held him. Throughout his captivity, the young Patrick would often turn to God in times of distress and need. Prayer became Patrick s refuge, and he would spend hours in conversation with God. Patrick remained in the hands of his captors for six long years. Then, in the summer of 407, he experienced a profound religious transformation. Commanded by God in a dream, Patrick was instructed to leave Ireland via the coast. There, on the rocky shores of the Irish coast, sailors caught sight of Patrick and returned him to Britain and his family. However, a short while later, Patrick experienced another profound dream. In the dream, Patrick heard the cries of the Irish people, We beg you, holy youth, to come and walk among us once more. And although it would be years before he returned to Ireland, the prophetic nature of Patrick s dream was inevitable. Patrick was not destined to stay in Britain for long he soon moved to continental Europe and began studying for the priesthood in a French monastery. In 432, Patrick was ordained a bishop and commissioned to take the Gospel to Ireland. He reached the Irish shores for a second time on March 25, 433. Patrick would spend the remainder of his life in Ireland, converting the Irish pagans for the next 30 years. Patrick s legend spread far and wide, and by the grace of God, the saint converted thousands of Druids to the Catholic faith. He built churches throughout Ireland and opened the eyes of ruthless barbarian kings to the grace and love of Christ. Legend has it that Patrick used an ordinary shamrock clover to explain the mystery of the Trinity to the Irish people. Other legends depict Patrick ridding the island of venomous snakes. However, scientists now know that snakes never inhabited the Emerald Isle. But the story symbolically sheds light on Patrick s evangelical mission ridding Ireland of pagan religions, with the cross replacing the popular Druid serpent. Today, 93 percent of Ireland is Catholic. We celebrate St. Patrick s Day on March 17, the day of his death. A holiday for all nations, St. Patrick s Day has become a universal opportunity to celebrate friendship and good fortune.

7 MAR/APR 2017 TO RE-DEDICATE OURSELVES TO DOING WHAT IS RIGHT Lenten Opportunities at Blessed Trinity Catholic Parish As it does every year, the season of Lent began again this year on Ash Wednesday. Being Catholic, we know that Lent is a season of penitence and penance. We also know that Lent is the 40-day period in preparation for Easter, and it is one of the major liturgical seasons in our church year. In addition to the concept of penance, Lent stresses prayer, fasting and almsgiving. Here at Blessed Trinity Parish, we offer opportunities in each of these areas, but in particular we are focusing on penance and the Sacrament of Reconciliation this year. This will be Pastor Fr. Scott Jablonski s first Lent and Easter with our community. He recognizes that this is a special time of year in the Church. The goal for us should be to practice our faith every day year-round, he says. But Lent is a special time in the Church year when we need to evaluate how we are doing, re-dedicate ourselves to doing what is right, to make an effort to root out our sins, and to prepare for the joy of Easter. Fr. Scott also acknowledges that the parish is trying to make it easy and convenient for people to go to confession - to encounter Jesus the Divine Physician. To assure that people have every opportunity for Reconciliation [Confession], the parish has established a schedule to make it as opportune as possible, Father says. Individual confessions are available on Saturday afternoons immediately prior to the 4:30 p.m. Vigil Mass in Lodi (from 3:30 to 4:15 p.m.), on Sunday mornings prior to the 8:00 a.m. Mass in Dane (from 7:30 to 7:45 a.m.), on most Wednesday evenings while religious education classes are going on (from 5:45 to 7:00 p.m.), and on Friday mornings in Dane from 8:30 to 9:15 a.m. (Please check the current bulletin for the most up to date schedule). This year we have two other special events in relation to Individual Reconciliation, Father says. The first is a communa l penance ser v ice, which w ill happen on Wednesday, April 5, in Lodi beginning at 6:30 p.m. We will gather as a community and have the opportunity for reflection, prayer, and private confession with one of a number of priests who will be present. Also, because I really think Reconciliation is so important, I am offering a program called Forgiven: The Transforming Power of Confession, on four Tuesday mornings and evenings March 7, 14, 28, and April 4 in Lodi beginning in the morning after the 8 a.m. Mass and then in the evening at 6:30 p.m., Father says. In spite of our long time traditions and practices, I believe that many people still have questions, concerns, and misunderstandings about confession. And this will be a chance to learn more about this beautiful sacrament and to ask whatever questions one might have about those things. The goal for us should be to practice our faith every day year-round. But Lent is a special time in the Church year when we need to evaluate how we are doing, rededicate ourselves to doing what is right, to make an effort to root out our sins, and to prepare for the joy of Easter. Fr. Scott Jablonski If you would like more information on Reconciliation or have any questions about Lenten opportunities in our parish, please contact the parish office or Fr. Scott Jablonski at

8 BLESSED TRINITY CATHOLIC PARISH 521 FAIR ST. LODI, WI (608) NONPROFIT ORG U.S. POSTAGE PAID LODI, WI PERMIT NO. 52 Address Service Requested HOLY MASS SCHEDULE Sunday: Saturday Vigil 4:30 p.m. (Lodi) Sunday 8:00 a.m. (Dane) Sunday 10:00 a.m. (Lodi) Weekday: Tuesday 5:00 p.m. (Lodi) Wednesday 8:00 a.m. (Dane) Thursday 8:00 a.m. (Lodi) Friday 8:00 a.m. (Dane) Blessed Trinity Catholic School Presents: The 4 th Annual Roseanne Mills Great Gatsby Gala Honoring Vic & Shirley Hellenbrand Social Hour begins at 6pm Steak & Shrimp Dinner at 7pm Live Auction following Dinner Tickets: $55 Each or $425 for a table of 8 We will begin accepting reservations on Tuesday, April 4 th To make a reservation Please Phone x6 or btschool@btcatholic.us